What is a Highly-Sensitive person?

If you want to learn more about what a Hypersensitive person is, then you've probably already identified with the label and can relate in some way. That's how I found out that I was Hypersensitive. The more I researched, the more I felt that I had finally found the answer to why I feel, think, and do what I do.

The first thing I would recommend is that you purchase a book, because honestly I'm not a professional and I certainly don't know everything about the trait. The book that I was pulled towards was The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron. Being a Hypersensitive (HSP), she really knows how to explain what you're feeling and why. It's a difficult process, but this book really helped me start on the right path to understanding myself and also knowing that there is nothing wrong with me.

So now that I established that I'm not a doctor or expert on this subject, I should maybe explain why I decided to start this blog. I know that there aren't a lot of us, but that we exist and are often misunderstood. Part of the reason why being Hypersensitive isn't well known, is because most of us feel uncomfortable talking about it, or opening up to others. Especially when the majority of the world feels that being outgoing and the center of attention is a positive trait, while being introverted, reserved, and that dreaded word "shy" are generally negative or weak.

Hopefully my experiences will help to unite the HSP's who either don't know what they are, or otherwise don't want to talk about it.

The truth is being an HSP has made me creative, intuitive, empathetic, and more appreciative of everything around me. I hope that others will see how this is a gift and not a curse, although it can seem like that at times...but whether you relate or not, I hope that this might help make more people aware.

SO that leads me to what a HSP is. In its most basic definition...and this is me defining it based on what I've read... a HSP is someone whose body reacts to stimulants more than the average person. This means that a person's level of arousal in situations with loud noise, bright lights, or high stress, can be more overwhelming than the average person. This also means that HSP's tend to have higher levels of emotion, fall harder in love, and also can experience deeper sadness but also heightened happiness.

HSP's tend to also be more intuitive and spiritual. I think we feel more comfortable with having an inquisitive mind than remaining earth bound. Which is why one can presume that our famous philosophers, artists, and theologians throughout history, are more than likely HSP's.

Like I said, the list of descriptive traits of an HSP along with the psychological and physical background are best left for the experts and there are books available to those who are interested. I will try my best to represent this group, but feel free to fill in the gaps if you so choose.